Every city has their main industries, from making Avaya telephones to developing aerospace technology, and for Stratford Ontario that industry is tourism and summer theatre. Resident journalist Tom Patterson conceived the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 1952 and the first shows, All's Well that Ends Well and Richard III, opened the following year under the direction of Tyrone Guthrie. This inaugural season took place in a tent but the first permanent space was not far behind and opened in 1957. Now, over fifty years later, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival is the largest celebration to the Bard within all of North America.

The modern festival runs four performance spaces from April through the beginning of November and this season is featuring twelve productions. These range from three musicals to new works by some of the nation's most talked about playwrights. For a weekend or evening away, anyone from children to retirees is sure to have a fun night out at the theatre in Stratford. You could pack up the car and stay over night or come down in a GTA limousine as part of a birthday or anniversary celebration.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is also a great choice for anyone who's planning an event for ten all the way up to a few hundred people. An online life coach could attend a show with their clients to inspire them to try new things or a corporate group could book a conference in the city and end the weekend with a trip to the theatre. There are several spaces within the Festival Theatre that can be used for awards ceremonies, weddings, and special events.

For those looking for a little extra with their theatre experience, the festival also offers backstage tours, several concert series, and even some chances to meet those that put the show together. If you're working in cosmetic dentistry Mississauga based and want a taste of what it's like to work in one of the country's premiere theatre venues you could also take an acting class or attend a lecture about one of the current productions.

Throughout the years, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival has made an effort to showcase several art forms beyond just acting. Take a break from looking over your oil ETFs portfolio to listen to some great musical acts or learn a little bit more about your favorite authors with the Celebrated Writers Series. All of these choices could fit in perfectly with a trip to the Stratford area.